Wrapping and twisting apparatus



W 3952 RUMSEY, JR

WRAPPING AND TWISTING'APPARATUS 2 SHEET Filed Jan. 25, 1950 INVENTOR.firzrf Fumse if HTTUIPNE Y5 Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improved wrapping and twisting apparatus foruse in wrapping casing, wrappers and other flexible material aroundvarious articles.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus of theabove character which is of relatively inexpensive construction, whichis simple to operate and does not require the use of skilled operatorsand which may be used in wrapping and twisting articles and materialspresenting a smooth anti-friction type of surface.

A further object is the provision of improved wrapping and twistingapparatus in which the twisting unit which contacts the article andmaterials being wrapped or twisted, can be readily removed for cleaningpurposes or for the purpose of being replaced by other units.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of theabove character which may be readily adapted or converted for use inwrapping or twisting articles of specific size or having specificconfigurations.

Other objects will be apparent from the following detailed descriptionsof the drawings in which- Fig. l is a side elevational view, partiallyin section, of wrapping and twisting apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially plan and partially elevational view, in thedirection of the arrows on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similar view, in the direction of the arrows, on the line3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, in the direction of the arrows, on theline 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 illustrates one type of product which may be twisted by theapparatus;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the twisting unit of the apparatusshowing one type of adaptor for use in twisting or wrapping a specificproduct; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the twisting unit and adaptor shownin Fig. 6.

My improved wrapping and twisting apparatus consists primarily of atwisting unit in the form of a tubular drum open at both ends and havinga friction surface in the interior thereof together with suitablecontrol and operating mechanism on which the drum is supported in amanner that it can be readily removed.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated apparatus suitablysupported on a base l0 and operated by a prime mover such as theelectric motor II mounted on the base and having a sprocket l2 connectedby sprocket chain l3 to i sprocket l4 which, in turn, drives theoperating mechanism of the apparatus.

The operating mechanism takes the form of a drive roller l5 having afriction type of surface such as the corrugated rubber surface indicatedin the drawings. The roller is mounted on the same shaft I6 as thesprocket I4 and the shaft is suitably supported in brackets I? mountedon the base It. I

Spaced radially from the operating or drive roller I5 and mounted insubstantially the same horizontal plane are a pair of idler rollers ordiscs i 8. The discs l8, as shown, are mounted in spaced relationshipupon shaft 19 which, in turn, is supported in suitable bearings bybrackets 29 which, in turn, is mounted upon the base Ill.

The drive roller 15 and idler rollers I8 serves as the operatingmechanism and supports for the twisting unit.

The twisting unit is in the form of a tubular drum 2! open at both endsand provided with an interior surface having relatively high frictionalcharacteristics. Thus, as shown, the interior of the drum is preferablyformed with ribs 22 presenting a relatively sharp or straight faceextending in a generally radial direction on one side and a sloping faceor surface on the other side. The ribs extend for substantially thewidth of the drum, are generally parallel to each other and the sharpradial surface faces in the direction of rotation of the drum. Theexterior of the drum is formed with guide means in the form ofcircumferential projecting flanges 23 disposed adjacent the two lateraledges. The distance between the flanges is slightly greater than thewidth of drive roller [5 which, in turn, is equal to the distancebetween the two outer surfaces of the idler rollers l8. The externaldiameter of the drum 2| is slightly greater than the distance betweenthe drive roller I5 and idler rollers l8. Accordingly, the drum may beplaced upon the rollers in the manner indicated and upon rotation of thedrive roller [5 it will be seen that the drum will be caused to rotate.The spacing between the rollers should preferably be only slightly lessthan the diameter of the drum so that the drum depends downwardlybetween them to thereby give better balance and support. The fianges23are disposed beyond the ends of the rollers and serve to retain the drumin place and to prevent accidental dislodgment.

When the drum rests upon the rollers in the manner shown it will rotateas long as drive roller [5 is in rotation. It is preferable not to berequired to switch off the motor I I every time it is desired to stopthe rotation of drum 2!. Accordingly, I provide mechanism whereby themotor I I and drive roller l5 may remain in continuous operation whilethe apparatus is in use but whereby the operator can readily stop andstart the rotation of drum 2!.

This mechanism takes the form of a small roller 24 mounted on the end oflever 25 which, in turn, is supported on fulcrum or'bracket 23. Spring21 connected between the base Ill and the opposite end of lever 25normally serves to hold the left end of the lever and roller 24 inelevated position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When inelevated position roller 24 raises drum 2| out of contact with driveroller 15 (also as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) with the result thatthe rotation of the drum will cease. The operation of lever 25 iscontrolled by means of another lever 28 mounted in fulcrum or bracket 29and provided with an end portion 39 which engages the right-hand end oflever 25. The opposite end of lever 28 may be connected by suitablemeans such as chain 3! to a pedal or the like (not shown) whereby theoperation of the unit may be readily controlled.

By depressing the right-hand end of lever 28 the right-hand end of lever25 is elevated and roller 24 will accordingly be lowered out of contactwith drum 2i so that the drum will once more rest upon drive roller l5and will be ro- 1 tated thereby. When the right-hand end of lever 28 isreleased spring 21 returns lever 25 and roller 24 to its normal positionwith the result that drum 2! will be elevated out of contact with driveroller [5 and the rotation of the drum will once again be discontinued.

The apparatus may be used for wrapping and twisting various types ofwrappers, casings or other flexible materials around articles. In Figs.4 and 5 I have illustrated the apparatus being used to twist astockinette around a meat product such as a pork butt to shape and formthe product in the manner taught in my Patent No. 2,247,312, granted onJune 24, 1941, for Meat Packing Process. Thus, I have shown astockinette 32 and several meat products 33, 34, 35 encased therein. Theoperator inserts one end of the stockinette with its meat productthrough an open end of the drum 2| while it is stationary and grasps thefirst and third. product in his hands on the two sides of the drum i.e., products 33 and 35 are grasped by the operator while the secondproduct 34 is inside the drum. The operator holds or manipulates theproducts in the manner shown in Fig. 4 so that the intermediate product35 is in contact with the ribbed interior surface of the drum. He thendepresses the right-hand end of lever 28 by suitable means, such as apedal, with the result that rotation of drum 2! is initiated and thefrictional interior surface of the drum causes rotation of the product34 and its encasing stockinette so as to twist the stockinette betweenthe products 33 and 34 and between the products 35 and 34.

When the stockinette has been twisted so as to exert sufiicient forceagainst the products to form and shape them to the required amount, thestockinette and its products are then drawn through the drum so that thethird product is in the position of the first product i. e., product 35is positioned where product 33 is indicated in Fig. 4. At that point,the third and fifth products are grasped in the hands of the operatorand the fourth product is rotated or twisted in the same manner as thesecond product. This 4 is repeated so as to twist or rotate every secondproduct until the stockinette, between each of the products, has beentwisted to the desired amount.

The wrapping and twisting apparatus may also be used to wrap a casing orwrapper around a single article simply by inserting the article, encasedin its wrapping, in the drum in the same manner, then grasping theprotruding ends of the casing or wrapping in the hands of the operatorand initiating the rotation of the drum with the wrapped article incontact therewith. When the protruding ends of the wrapper have beensuiiiciently twisted the operator can readily discontinue the rotationof the drum by releasing the right-hand end of lever 28.

It will also be appreciated that the operator may initiate and stop therotation of drum 2| without applying force, manually or by footpressure, to the right-hand end of lever 28. This can be accomplished byapplying force to the drum through the articles being wrapped. Thus, ifthe operator presses downwardly with sufiicient force on the articlesbeing wrapped the drum will be shifted downwardly into contact withdrive roller against the force exerted by spring 2?. When the operatorreleases this downward pressure, the drum will again be returned to itselevated position by means of spring 21.

For certain types of product, particularly those of irregular crosssectional shape, I have found that very satisfactory results areobtained by applying an adaptor to the drum. I have illustrated one formof adaptor in Figs. 6 and '7. In this embodiment of my invention theapparatus is being used to wrap a meat loaf 36 in a wrapping 31 made offlexible plastic sheet material such as cellulose acetate, polyvinylresin, Pliofilm, cellophane or the like. The meat loaf is shapedsomewhat similar to a loaf of bread in cross section i. e., it isgenerally rectangular. The adaptor accordingly is in the form of arectangular frame 33 having four walls arranged in rectangular shape andlarge enough to accommodate the meat loaf 35 but not so large as topermit rotation thereof.

The frame 38 is small enough to permit insertion into the drum 2! and itis inserted therein and held in place by suitable fastening means suchas the angle brackets 39 which are extended through the frame onopposite sides thereof and are provided with depending ears 4!] whichare clamped against the edges of the drum by bolt and wing-nutassemblies 4!, 42. By unscrewing the wing-nut and removing the bolt, the

angle brackets 39 and frame or adaptor 38 can be readily withdrawn fromthe drum.

In using the adaptor shown in Figs. 6 and 7, it will be appreciated thatthe operation of the ap paratus is essentially the same as previouslydescribed. Thus, the rotation of the drum is initiated and stopped inthe same manner.

The adaptor is applied to the drum in the manner previously describedand the drum is placed on the rollers as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Themeat loaf is then encased in the wrapping material with the wrappingmaterial 3'! projecting beyond the two ends thereof and it is insertedin the adaptor and the projecting ends of the wrapping material graspedin the hands of the operator on the two sides of the unit. Rotation ofthe drum is then initiated and after the ends of the wrapper have beensufliciently twisted, the operator releases the right-hand end of lever28 and roller 24 returns to its normal elevated 5 position stopping therotation of the drum. The meat loaf is then withdrawn and the operationis repeated as required.

The shape and form of the adaptor may, of course, be varied to suit theparticular product to be twisted therein. The adaptor can also bereadily removed or replaced by other adaptors as desired.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an improved wrapping andtwisting apparatus which is of relatively inexpensive construction,which is simple to operate and which may be used for wrapping andtwisting casings, wrappings and other flexible materials around varlousarticles and products including those having smooth anti-frictionsurfaces. It will be seen that the twisting unit or drum 2| can bereadily removed for cleaning or for replacement due to the fact that itmerely rests on the supporting rollers. tion of the drum can be readilycontrolled quite apart from the operation of the motor and of the driveroller. Also, as pointed out above, adaptor units of various types maybe readily applied to the drum for twisting articles of specificirregular configurations.

Modifications may of course be made in the illustrated and describedembodiment of my invention without departing from the invention as setforth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

'1. In wrapping and twisting apparatus, the combination of a pluralityof rollers mounted for rotary motion in radially spaced relationship,one of, said rollers being a drive roller a tubular drum open at bothends resting on said rollers, said drum being formed with a pair ofcircumferential flanges on the outer surface thereof and positionedbeyond the opposite ends of the rollers on which the drum rests andserving to retain the drum in place on the rollers and control means forshifting said drum into and out of contact with said drive roller.

2. In wrapping and twisting apparatus, the combination of a drive rollermounted for rotary motion, a tubular drum open at both ends and having africtional surface in the interior thereof disposed adjacent said rollerand shiftable with respect thereto and cooperable to engage said rollerto be rotated thereby, and spring It will also be seen that therotapressed means in engagement with said drum so as normally to hold itin spaced relationship with respect to said roller but so that the drummay be shifted into engagement with the roller when a predeterminedforce is applied thereto.

3. In wrapping and twisting apparatus, the combination of a drive rollerand an idler roller mounted for rotary motion in radially spacedrelationship, a tubular drum open at both ends disposed adjacent andparallel to said rollers and cooperable to rest on said rollers butbeing shiftable with respect thereto, and means including a leverpivotally mounted adjacent an intermediate point having spring meansconnected adjacent one end thereof and the other end being in engagementwith the drum for normally holding said drum out of contact with thedrive roller but so that the drum may be shifted into engagement withthe drive roller when a predetermined force is applied thereto.

4. In wrapping and twisting apparatus, the combination of a drive rollermounted for rotary motion, a tubular drum open at both ends and having africtional surface in the interior thereof disposed adjacent said rollerand shiftable with respect thereto and cooperable to engage said rollerto be rotated thereby, and control means for the drum including ashiftable member in engagement with the drum and means applying a forceto the shiftable member so that the shiftable member normally holds thedrum in spaced relationship with respect to said drive roller but sothat the drum may be shifted into engagement with the drive roller whena predetermined 'force is applied thereto.

HERBERT RUMSEY, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,234,491 Robinson July 24, 19171,235,660 Crockett Aug. 7, 1917 1,289,930 Schlerth Dec. 31, 19181,964,259 Green June 26, 1934 2,009,241 Roberts July 23, 1935 2,136,839Brown Nov. 15, 1938 2,360,153 Noguera Oct. 10, 1944

